Eyeglass lens mounting



Feb. 18, 1941. R. SUMNER 2,232,147

EYEGLASS LENS MOUNTING Filed J'une 19, 1959v www1/bo@ Foer Sumner" Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to amounting for the lenses of eyeglasses of the rimless type and more particularly pertains to improvements in lens mountings of the character in which a resilient element is interposed between the margin of the lens and a shoe carrying lens engaging straps so as to impose a lateral yieldable thrust on a fastening screw passing through the lens and engaging the straps to hold the screw against unwanted loosening and at the same time afford a cushioned interconnection between the lens and its support such as to minimize breakage of the lens by reason of strains imposed thereon through the mounting. Various constructions have heretofore been devised for the purpose above stated, but because of the minuteness of the mounting and its parts considerable difficulty is encountered in producing a spring member possessing the requisite tension and flexibility and yet be apiplicable to the limited space available between the margin of the lens and the shoe of the mounting and at the same time afford the necessary tension and without detracting from the appearance of the connection. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a construction in a spring mounting of the type above referred to embodying a one piece plate spring element which is so formed as to have a multiple spring action and thereby the action of the spring is enhanced and assemblage thereof is facilitated.

A furtherobject is to provide a construction in the plate spring element whereby on clamping the element under pressure between its supporting shoe and the margin of a lens dual thrusts will be imposed on the free end or ends of the spring in a fashion to augment the tension thereof so as to insure against a loose connection between the parts and also maintain the fastening screw tight in the straps.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into effect as illustrated on an exaggerated scale in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a View in elevation of a rimless eyeglass lens showing the invention `as applied both to the temple attachment and to the bridge piece and depicting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the temple attachment as seen partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a View in section and elevation as seen on the line 3--3` of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the bridge piece connection partly in section;

Fig. 5 is e. View in section as seen on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation of the mounting shown in Fig. 4 with parts separated and in a partially assembled position and showing th spring element in its normal position;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the spring element employed in the mounting shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Referring to the drawing more specically, A indicates an eyeglass lens of conventional construction, B designates a temple mounting, and C denotes a bridge piece mounting, which mountings are attached to the lens A in a usual fashion.

Each of said mountings embodies a shoe I0 connecting a pair of straps II positioned astride the rim portion of the lens; the straps II being connected together on opposite sides of the lens 'by a screw -I2 which passes through an opening I3 in the le'ns in the conventional manner; the opening I3 being slightly larger in diameter than the shank of the screw to afford a clearance therebetween and the screw being passed through one of the straps and screwed into engagement with the other in the well known manner. The shoe IIJ is spaced throughout from the margin of the lens except when applied to the temple mounting in which case one end I4 of the shoe is turned to abut the edge of the lens. By preference the face of the shoe presented toward the edge of the lens is straight and at throughout except as to the end portion of the shoe that abuts the lens in the temple mounting. The straps II lead from opposed portions of the shoe intermediate the ends thereof so that the end portions of the shoe protrude beyond the side margins of the strap in overlying relation to the margin of the lens.

The essence of the invention resides in a plate spring D interposed between the margin of the lens A and the inner face of the shoe IU which spring is bowed and is axed to the intermediate portion of the shoe by means of a rivet I5 with its outer convex face presented to the shoe; the spring being held against turning on the shoe by pairs of lugs I6 projecting from opposite sides thereof and protruding astride the straps II as particularly shown in Fig. 3.

In carrying out the invention as shown in Figs. l to 7 inclusive, a knob-like protrusion I'I is formed on the outer arcuate face of the spring adjacent the free end or ends thereof, against which an outer end portion of the shoe is adapted to labut on compressingl the spring between the shoe and the margin of the lens, in such manner as to impart an augmented thrust on the outer end portion of the spring relative to the tension imparted to the spring by flexion under the opposed pressures imposed thereon on initially advancing the shoe toward the margin of the lens when the tip or tips of the spring are brought into contact with the latter, which latter action tends to straighten the `bow of the spring by inward movement of the portion thereof attached to the shoe relative to the end'portion or portions that abut the lens.

The protrusion Il may be formed on the spring in any suitable manner as by forming an indent in the spring from the concave side thereof to form the knob-like projection on the 'outer convex face of the spring as shown in Fig. 5, or by pressing an extruded loop from the material of the spring to protrude from the outer convex face thereof as shown in Fig. 7; Protrusions of this character have little or no flexibility relative toV the main body of the spring and will not iiatten out or weaken and accordingly will continue to exert a maximum of forward thrust at all times.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a, spring for eyeglass lens mountings that while having a multiple spring action comprises a single unit that may be readily assembled in the mounting and securely held in place thereon, and Vwhich when in use will act to hold the fastening screw l2 tightly against the margin of the openingV i3 in the lens against unscrewing and at the same time will afford the requisite cushioned movement of the lens and shoe relative to each other.

I claim:

1. In a lens mounting for eyeglasses embodying a shoe, a pair of straps on said shoe adapted to -be positio-ned astride a lens, and a screw connesting said straps through the lens; a bowed plate spring interposed between the margin of ing a shoe, a pair of straps on said shoe adapted to' be positioned astride a lens, and a screw connecting said straps through the lens; a bowed plate spring interposed between the margin of said lens and the inner face of said shoe extending longitudinally thereof with at least one end of the spring seating on the margin of the lens and with an intermediate portion attached to said shoe, and an indent forming a knob-like protrusion on a free end portion of said spring arranged for abutment against the inner face of said shoe on compressing said spring between said shoe and lens to augment outward thrust of said spring against said shoe.

3. In a lens mounting for eyeglasses embodying a shoe, a pair of straps on said shoe adapted to be positioned astride a lens, and a screw connecting said straps through the lens; a bowed plate spring interposed between the margin of saidlens and the; inner face of said shoe eX- tending 1ongitudinally thereof with at least one .end of the spring seating on the margin of the 

